A Tier 2 Targeted Intervention Program
A School-Based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Program for Boys
In order for boys to succeed, they need men they can talk with about life. Project Manhood gives them men who change their approach to life and help them improve their social-emotional skills.
While all children suffer from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and exhibit school behavior problems, boys are often harder to reach with intervention programs. Project Manhood is an evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) program building developmental assets and targeting the social determinants of behavioral health. Boys experience it as exciting and transformative. It is often the first time in their lives they get to spend talking with a group of men about their thoughts and feelings.
Schools We Work With
Project Manhood works with public schools, charter schools, and schools for special populations such as court-committed youth detention facilities.
History
Project Manhood was started in 1991 by Sheldon Nix, Ph.D., M.S.W.. With his training in counseling psychology and social work, together with teaching graduate psychology students at a university and working in low income communities, he recognized that a specialized program for boys needed to be created. In the last 13 years, Dr. Nix has launched a major effort to bring Project Manhood to schools, using evidence-based curricula and best practices.
Schools
Boys
Years
Why
All children need to learn social-emotional skills, and sometimes need Tier 2 intervention programs to help correct behavior problems and improve behavioral health. Children also need help increasing what the Search Institute calls “developmental assets”. We have found that boys often need a program customized to young male psychology for such programs to really make a difference.
Who
Middle school and high school boys.
What
45-60 minute sessions during the school day (sometimes during an extended lunch period) or right after school, once a week.
We use the evidence-based, award winning Second Step curriculum along with other multi-media curricular materials Project Manhood has found effective for boys. Evaluations utilize number and severity of behavior incidents along with other measures of improvement.
It Takes a Village
Changing Boys’ Lives. Improving School Climate.
Fewer Behavior Incidents in School
Research shows that boys in this program have fewer behavioral incidents, including fights and disruptive behavior, which improves the classroom climate for all children…and the teacher.
Improved Social-Emotional Skills
The program improves the 5 critical SEL skills identified by CASEL: Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, Social Awareness, and Relationship Skills.
Improved Academic Performance
Research also shows that boys in these kinds of programs–which do not focus on academics–show on average an 11% gain in academic performance. The whole child must be educated.
Love
A Secret Ingredient of Project Manhood
Boys are starving for a sustained, intimate relationship with a man. The Mentor-Coaches of Project Manhood give them the time, attention, caring, and life coaching boys crave.
Mentor-Coaches help make the SEL lessons practical and applicable to the real situations boys are facing. The Search Institute calls these “developmental relationships,” and they are powerful.